Classes I teach at Caltech
The meaning of Professor derives from "to profess" or "to
declare publicly". All too often, in our research-dominated
universities, this key function of a professor is neglected. I love to teach
and offer the following undergraduate and graduate classes:
- Introduction
to Computation and Neural Systems (CNS100) This one unit
course introduces students to the wide variety of research being
undertaken by CNS faculty. Topics from all the CNS research labs are
discussed and span the range from biology to engineering. Offered in
the fall of 2010.
- Brains,
Minds and Society (CNS/SS/Psy/Bi 102a). This nine unit
class, taught in the winter of each year, introduces the student to
the computations made by the brain during economic and social
decision-making and their neural substrates. This class is co-taught
with Profs. Adolphs and O'Doherty. Offered in the winter of
2010/11.
- The Neuronal
Basis of Consciousness (CNS/Bi/Psy 120). This nine unit
class, taught in the spring of each year, is concerned with the
correlates of consciousness in the brain. The course focuses on the
anatomy, physiology and psychology of sensory consciousness in the
mammalian brain, in particular visual perception. Other topics
include coma and other disturbances of consciousness, clinical case
studies (e.g., prosopagnosia, neglect), attention, memory, zombie
systems, free will and some philosophical questions of interest to the
student of consciousness. Offered in the spring of 2011.
- Vision: From
Computational Theory to Neuronal Mechanisms (CNS/Bi/EE
186). This twelve unit class is aimed at understanding visual
information processing, in both machines and the mammalian visual
system. The course emphasizes vision at several levels: computational
theory, algorithms, psychophysics and the neuroanatomy and
neurophysiology of the mammalian visual system. The focus is on early
vision processes: motion analysis, binocular stereo, brightness, color
and texture analysis and boundary detection. Students are required to
complete one project (mathematical analysis, computer modeling, or
psychophysics). Offered in the winter term of 2009/10, this class is
co-taught with Profs. Shimojo and Perona.